The board that runs the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport officially has two new top leaders – a potential step toward ending some of the board's months-long turmoil.

Bill Robinson and Kathy Collins were elected chair and vice chair, respectively, in unprecedented fashion during the Kenton County Airport Board's monthly meeting Monday. Both will serve three-month terms, with the possibility of being reappointed in June.

No board members objected to the Northern Kentucky residents taking over during the board's hour-long meeting, the first since Chairman Jim Huff and Vice Chairman Larry Savage abruptly resigned Feb. 21.

Kenton County Judge-executive Steve Arlinghaus wanted Robinson and Collins to take over as the chair and vice chair – despite it not being Arlinghaus' call. Airport bylaws say a five-member board selection committee must first recommend people to fill those positions. The full 18-member board then has to vote on who will serve as the top two leaders. It's typically a two-month process.

But board attorney Wil Ziegler said the chair and vice chair had never resigned before their appointments had expired, allowing the board to immediately vote on its new leaders.

"It was just a little awkward for the judge-executive to nominate the chair and vice chair – although we were in the land of no bylaws to guide us and I think people just accepted it, somewhat reluctantly," said Cincinnati State President Dr. O'dell Owens, a long-time advisory board member.

Owens added: "The difference is Bill Robinson has served in the past as chair and did a great job, and we're looking for him to show that same leadership."

Kenton County's top elected official has sole authority to appoint the board's seven executive committee members, and Arlinghaus has been scrutinized for appointing several members who have donated to his political campaign. Both Robinson and Collins' family made major contributions to Arlinghaus' campaign last year. Arlinghaus named Robinson, an attorney, and Collins, a Fifth Third Bank vice president, as the chair and vice chair when he announced the resignations of Huff and Savage.

"I did that only until this meeting could take place and the board could vote on it," Arlinghaus said. "It was never my intention to say they were going to be it until whenever. I didn't want us to go three weeks without somebody at the helm."

Robinson previously served as the airport board chairman from 2004 to 2006. He is well-regarded in the community, and other board members are optimistic Robinson will help chart a new course for a board currently under state investigation for lavish spending on travel, food and alcohol.

Robinson immediately made a big decision Monday, eliminating a monthly meeting involving just the board's executive committee members. Under Huff, several major decisions were made in those meetings without input from the 11 non-voting advisory board members.

"I'd like to think we'll make good decisions when everyone has input," Robinson said.

The leadership change, however, doesn't mean some of the concern surrounding the board's structure will go away, Owens said.

"The problem is the genie's out of the bottle: The people of Ohio are going to want a vote now," Owens said. "That conversation still has to continue."

The board turmoil has prompted several elected officials and business leaders to either publicly or privately call for more representation from Ohio residents and Cincinnati companies on the powerful executive committee. The board's voting members call the shots on every dollar spent on airport operations and negotiate with airlines.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, sent a letter to Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear calling for new laws to allow Ohio to have mandated representation on the board's executive committee. CVG, located in Hebron, is the primary commercial airport serving Cincinnati.

Arlinghaus reiterated he is the first judge-executive to ever appoint an Ohio resident – he's appointed two – to the airport board, formed in the 1940s.

"I hope the politicians quit trying to stir the pot on this issue," he said. "I recognize the significance of Ohio. If we're going to be successful, we need to partner with Ohio, and I've demonstrated that with my appointments. What else can you want?"